Western Stars 164 As Saturday's overcast morning transformed into a brilliantly bright afternoon so did the fortunes of Police, as they blossomed into champions, seizing the Central Counties Cup with a 29-run victory over Western Stars.

The memory of three previous defeats this season at the hands of the St.

John's Road club faded in the jubilation of a convincing triumph, one which dramatically snapped Stars' string of five straight Central Counties series victories.

It also put Police in line to battle for the Champion of Champions title in September, when they will challenge the eventual Western and Eastern Counties winners.

Police took full advantage of the absence of three front line batsmen from the home team's line-up -- captain Arnold Manders, Jeff Richardson and Albert Steede -- all travelling with the Bermuda national squad in England.

The visitors were likewise without fast bowler Roger Blades, yet still found ways to ravage their opponents' line-up, with Tyrone Smith and Dwayne Leverock playing significant roles in Stars' demise.

But the hero of the day was captain Dennis Archer for his work with the willow, his 73 runs at the top or the order laying the foundation for the Police total of 193.

Leading by example, Archer took to an attack that had previously seemed able to dismantle Police at will, mixing patience and aggression to near perfection. Grafting five fours and two sixes, the opener reached his total in 116 balls.

Archer had an able partner to start with, in the form of Donovan Livingston, as they combined for 85 for the first wicket, with Livingston contributing 29 with just a single boundary.

The dismissal of Livingston brought Ferdinand Thorne (24) to the crease and he and Archer added 34, moving the total to 119 before Archer was undone by a Cleon Scotland delivery.

After Thorne the only real resistance was offered by Leverock (16) and Peter Philpott (23 not out).

Left-arm spinner Hasan Durham was the pick of the Stars bowlers, claiming three for 23 from 10 overs, while Brothers Allan and Gary Brangman returned figures of two for 60 and two for 20 respectively.

Stars' challenge more or less evaporated against the shrinking shadow of opening bat Treadwell Gibbons marching back to the pavilion.

Gibbons and Gregory Sampson looked like taking care of the visitors single-handed as they moved quickly to 45 at a better than five run per over clip.

But the ouster of Gibbons when on 29 to a superb grab by Stevie Lightbourne as the batsman cut loose at a Tyrone Smith delivery turned the table.

Andre Manders (four), Sampson (28) along with Ricky Brangman (three), Scotland (nine) and Durham (Zero) soon followed, as Stars took a turn in the `dramatic collapse' role.

A flurry by acting skipper Gary Brangman (41) at number seven rekindled hopes, but even before he was ninth out at 142 the die had already been cast.

Leverock's part in the dismantling was four wickets for 18 runs, while Smith's was three for 26, with Richard Austin one for 24.

DENNIS ARCHER -- led Police by example.